What are the unique advantages of gelatin capsules compared to plant capsules?

Low cost, significant price advantage
The raw materials of gelatin capsules (animal skin, collagen in bones) are widely sourced and have low costs. The production process is mature, and the overall price is significantly lower than that of plant capsules.

Better physical performance and wide applicability
Gelatin capsules exhibit better toughness and resistance to compression, and are less likely to leak or deform due to external forces. However, plant capsules have shortcomings in terms of toughness and size diversity, such as starch capsules being easily brittle and cellulose capsules potentially softening in extreme environments. In addition, the color, taste, and size selection of gelatin capsules are more diverse, meeting the appearance needs of different drugs.

Mature production technology and stable supply
The production technology of gelatin capsules has undergone hundreds of years of development, with high standardization of processes and stable production capacity. In contrast, the production process of plant capsules (such as HPMC and starch capsules) is complex, especially for starch capsules that require high-temperature and high-pressure molding, with high equipment requirements, resulting in limited production capacity.

Controllability of disintegration speed
Gelatin capsules disintegrate quickly in gastric acid environment, making them suitable for drugs that require rapid release. Although some plant capsules (such as HPMC) can also dissolve quickly, certain types (such as seaweed gel capsules) may be delayed in release due to their resistance to acidity and need to be selected based on the characteristics of the drug.

High market acceptance
Due to its long-term use history, gelatin capsules have a higher acceptance in the pharmaceutical industry and among consumers. The current market share of plant capsules is only 5% -10%, especially in developing countries where promotion is slow